What Are the Dangers of Taking Generic Cholesterol Medication?
With the increase of obesity and heart disease in recent times, the need for cholesterol-lowering drugs has also grown. When diet and exercise aren't effective, doctors will typically prescribe cholesterol-lowering drugs, usually statins. Although the demand for the generic form of these drugs is also on the rise given its reduced cost, there are some drawbacks and real dangers in taking these generic medications.
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Quality
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Depending on the manufacturer, generic cholesterol drugs may not have the same quality as the brand name. Check to make sure a reputable manufacturer is providing the generic drugs. Typical generic statins include lovastatin, rosuvastatin, fluvastatin, atorvastatin, pravastatin and simvastatin.
Purity
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Although generic drugs are required to have the same amount of active ingredients, they are not required to have the same nonactive ingredients, which can result in a difference in purity from name-brand cholesterol medications.
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Side Effects
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Because a generic is not required to have the exact same composition as name-brand drugs, side effects may vary. Always be sure to monitor your reaction to generic cholesterol medications, especially within the first few days.
Testing
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Many generic cholesterol-lowering medications are manufactured outside the United States, where testing and quality control are more difficult to monitor. Find the location of where the generic statin was manufactured, and verify if it was tested by the proper authorities.
Consistency
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As manufacturers cope with changing conditions, generic prescription cholesterol drugs are prone to varying levels of consistency. With a lack of regular testing, consistency is even more difficult to maintain. Without proper testing, generic cholesterol medication can have dangerous side effects.
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References
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